I would like to apologise for not communicating with you on a regular basis since end of June. I have been very busy with a number of projects, namely working on the DVD release of my feature film, The Winter of Love, which I have happy to report is near completion and will be available for pre-orders in mid-September. I will send out a notice a week before the pre-release date.

Other projects include Save the Children – Positive Press Project in Coventry where I am running a workshop on filmmaking with refugee and settled children. I will write more on this once the workshop is complete.

Lastly, as many of you will know, there is a general funding crisis that is being faced by voluntary groups in Ealing, West London. The government has cut funding across the board and are changing the criteria of how groups now have to bid for funds, which is very worrying as vital services will definitely be affected; from mental health through to groups assisting women and children escaping violence. And of course, the art groups will suffer the most as funding for these groups is always cut as art is not seen as an essential element of society, although the industry itself brings in billions for the government on an annual basis.

I have also been helping out friends on a ‘pukka’ commercial project which I have embraced as it’s a sure way for me to raise money for my next feature. If you are interested to find out more, visit their website for more information.

Anyhow, I will keep you posted regularly as I am back and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits my Blog. I would also like to apologies to numerous friends who ring regularly in an annoyed manner and demanding to know when I will be posting the next Blog! So here it is. Next Blog coming soon, tune in for more.

May 2007 saw the second issue of the amazing photographic journal ‘Camerawork Delhi’ launched in Delhi earlier in January.

Camerawork Delhi is a new free quarterly newsletter in print with a focus on photography in Delhi; its practitioners, its consumers and its suppliers. It carries news and information of local, national and international interest. The first issue was organised by Gauri Gill, Sunil Gupta, Radhika Singh and the print run was financially supported by Khoj.

The second issue for May 2007 includes work by Prabhuddha Dasgupta, Sunil Gupta, an interview with Harry and Laxman of Siddharth Photographix Bhogal in New Delhi, Allan Sekula, an article on Agatje Gaillard and her ‘galerie’ and an article by Mark Sealy, director of Autograph ABP and much more.

Camerawork Delhi is supported by the French Embassy in India and the Alliance Francaise Network

I recently received some publicity material for the OCHS and looking at their literature and the goals they have set themselves, the programme promises to be an interesting point of reference and archive for anyone pursing or interested in the history of Hinduism. Oral projects, the Digital Shikshapatri Project and the digitisation of Indian Libraries (which for me is perhaps the most exciting) are just a few of the projects that the centre has undertaken.

The OCHS or the Friends of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies have created a remarkable programme supported by Oxford University. Lord Dholakia writing in one of the publicity leaflets states that “bringing together respected scholars from all over the globe, the Centre is establishing a balanced view of the Hindu heritage and what it means to be a Hindu today. Hindus and non-Hindus are learning together and thus building bridges between cultures, philosophies and worldviews”

Sunil Gupta sent an alert through about a series of hate crimes against “Kothis”. There is a campaign being run by Saheli Women’s Resource Centre in New Delhi against these crimes and your support would be greatly appreciated.

Women’s Groups Condemn Attack On Kothis

We are shocked to hear about the attack on 3 kothis in Kolkata a few days ago. Seen as ‘effeminate’ men with ‘perverse’ sexual desires for men, once again kothis have had to face brutality. They were going to a park when they were attacked by a gang of 20-25 unidentified men. The brutal attack has left all of them bruised and injured, and one of them, Dhiman Roy, has sustained serious injuries. Needless to say, all of them, and the community at large is deeply traumatised by the attack.

The entire episode is being portrayed by the police as a stray incident, but we all are aware that such incidents of hate crimes against those who are seen to break social rules relating to who can desire whom and how men and women should look and behave happen all the time, all over the country. In most cases, the victims of such crimes are silenced and unable to seek justice due to both, the climate of intolerance against those oppressed on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity that exists all around, as well as the increased vulnerability of sexual minorities caused by Sec. 377 of the IPC – an archaic law that criminalises even consensual same-sex sexual activity.
As women’s groups, we condemn this act of gender based violence and express our solidarity with all those who suffer oppression because of their gender identity and sexual orientation. We also assert their right to safety and justice at par with every citizen in the country.

In this particular incident, we demand the police take action in identifying and proceeding with the due course of law against the attackers, without any delay. We also demand that in the future, prompt action should be taken against people who intimidate, harass and blackmail people of different sexual orientations.